Letter: Pay legislators for no more than 120 days

Thursday, June 26, 2003 | 9:03 a.m.

I find it hard to believe that 63 people ran for legislative office without knowing that the legislative session in the state of Nevada is 120 days.

They had to know that when they worked on each budget, eventually it would have to be funded. Do they not keep a running total of the dollar amount expected to be spent as they approve each final budget? According to the various media outlets, 71 percent chose to approve these budgets.

Do these people not realize that I, as a voter, do not appreciate this need to exacerbate the issue of the state not having enough money to pay its bills? Are they dumb enough to think that by reopening the budget and wasting more time that I will immediately forget that their job was for 120 days and now, we are at 130 and counting, they still haven't done their job.

I want them to refund the state for their salaries in excess of 120 days. As I see it now, they owe the state about a half million dollars.

Until the legislators are given an incentive, it will be politics as usual. They should be paid for 120 days only. If they were to finish in 115 days, then they still get paid for 120 days. If they go over, as in this case, then no extra pay.

LISA BIRD